Electric switch



Se t. 3, 1957 w. L. CHERRY, JR

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 24, 1956 m fl i A s R I Patented Sept. 3, 1957 2,805,299 ELECTRIC SWITCH Walter L. Cherry, Jr., Highland Park, IlL, assignor to Cherry Electrical Products Corporation, Highland Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 24, 1956, Serial No. tilhdti 3 Claims. (Cl. 20085) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric switches.

The electric switch embodying my invention is of the type which is generally, though not necessarily, incorporated in coin testing devices, in which the switch has a hair wire or the like extending into the path of movement of a coin or other object and through which wire the switch is actuated by the weight of such coin or other object on the wire. As such, it is a necessary requirement for successful operation that the switch blade actuating means of the switch be such that it is effectively actuated by a minimum actuating force. It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide an electric switch which will accomplish the foregoing.

Another and equally important object of this invention is the provision in an electric switch of a pivotal support for an actuator which is substantially remote from the pivotal support of the switch blade of such switch to assure an effective operative movement requiring but a relatively light operating force to assure proper contact pressure between the engaging contacts of the switch with a minimum of radius travel of the switch blade actuating spring or tensioning member.

Another object of the invention resides in the relationship of the position of the pivotal supports for the actuating lever of the switch and the switch blade to reduce the requirement of close manufacturing tolerances at the point of pivotal support for the actuating lever.

A further object of the invention is the provision in an electric switch of a rotary actuating pin which is formed of nylon or other material to provide good bearing and insulating properties, thereby to assure CffiClSl'it and successful operation of the switch.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in an electric switch a switch blade having the contact thereof adjacent its free end offset with respect to the long axis of the switch blade whereby upon actuation of the switch blade the engagement between the contact thereof and a stationary contact will be disengaged by a rocking action, thus breaking any welding effect which might have resulted during the engagement of the contacts.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional detail view of the some with the cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts thereof in different position;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the parts of the switch embodying my invention showing the same in exploded relation;

Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional detail view showing the pivotal support for the switch blade embodied in the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which the preferred form of construction of my invention is illustrated, my improved coin switch comprises an enclosure. This enclosure comprises a mounting plate 16 which constitutes the removable front wall of a housing 11. The mounting plate 10 and housing 11 may be formed of any approved material.

Extending from the inside surface of the mounting plate 1': is an integral block portion 12 having an opening 13 formed therein which registers with an opening formed in the housing 11 for insertion of a connecting element 14-. A similar connecting element 15 is projected through openings 16 formed in the mounting plate 10 and the rear wall of the housing 11. The block portion 12 is undercut as at 17 and at the base thereof provides a seat 18. A substantially rigid actuating lever 19 has an angled end portion 20, the edge 21 of which engages in the seat 13 whereby the lever 19 is pivotally supported by the block 12.

The free end 22 of the actuating lever 19 is reduced in width and has an outer end portion 23 bent substantially at right angles with respect to the reduced portion. In this angled end portion 23 is an opening 24.

The mounting block provides an opening 25. Mounted in this opening 25 is a trunnion 26. The trunnion 26 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 27 into which is press-fitted a stud shaft 28 of an actuator 29 having a laterally extending arm 30. Formed integral with such actuator 29 is a hub 31 provided with a transversely extending slot 32 in which is fixed one end portion of a feather wire 33, which wire 33 projects into a pathway through which a coin is adapted to drop by gravity.

The opposite end of the trunnion 26 terminates into a shaft 26 from which extends a stud shaft 34 journalled in an opening 35 formed in a vertical extension 36 of a bracket 39. This bracket 39 is secured to mounting plate 10 by suitable rivets 40. The bracket 39 is provided with a terminal 41 to which a circuit wire (not shown) is adapted to be attached.

As shown, the bracket 39 is substantially U-shaped in plan view to provide a bight portion 42 having extending upwardly from the top wall spaced fingers 43. in the outer vertical edge portion of these fingers 43 are notches 44, and formed in corresponding sides of the fingers 43 adjacent t e note, cs 44 is a V-shaped groove 45 (Fig. 8).

The switch blade is indicated at 49 and at its free end portion has an upturned flange 5-0. The switch blade 49 is substantially U-shaped in plan view and has end portions formed substantially V-shaped as at 51, from which extend extensions 52 having opposed notches 53 formed therein to provide fingers 54. The fingers 54 project into the notches 44 while the base edges 55 of thc notches 53 engage in the V-Shaped grooves 45 with their fiat edges 56 disposed at an angle with respect to the adjacent base surface 57 of the V-shaped notches or grooves 45, when the switch blade is in ineffective position, for reasons hereinafter more fully set forth.

The switch blade 49 is provided with an extension 58 from one side edge 59 thereof to support contact heads 60 on opposite sides of the switch blade 49. This extension 58 is arranged between stationary contacts 61 and 62 carried respectively by contact plates 63 and 64 secured by means of rivets 65 or the like to the mounting block 10. The contact heads of the switch blade 49 are adapted to alternately engage the contacts 61 and 62.

Each of these contact plates 63 and 64 includes a terminal 66 to which circuit wires (not shown) are attached by means of solder or the like.

Attached to the free endportion of the switch blade 49 as at 67 is one end portion 68 of a tension spring 69, the opposite end portion 70 of such spring being connected to the angled end' portion 23 as at 24.

Carried preferably as an integral'part of the arm 30 is a stop-lug 72' which is adapted to alternately engage stop fingers 73 projecting from the outer surface of the mounting plate and between which the arrn moves. These stop lugs 73 cooperate with the stop lugs 72 to limit the distance of rotation of the actuator 29 and to thereby assure against throwing the parts out of operative relationship with respect to each other.

The shaft 26' which is formed of the same material as the trunnion 26 is formed as an integral part of the latter and is cylindrical in cross section with a portion thereof removed to provide a flat surface 25' on which normally rests the reduced end portion 22 of the actuating lever. 19. A collar 74 is disposed between the shaft 26' and the trunnion 26 and serves to limit the projection' of the trunnion 26into its opening 25.

'In the drawings and from the description herein, it will be seen that the point of pivotal connection between the actuating lever 19 and the block portion 12 is adjacent the free end portion of the switch blade 49 and that the point of pivotal connection between the switch blade 49 and the bracket 39 is inwardly adjacent and below the free end portion of the actuating lever 19.

Due to this arrangement, such points of pivotal connection being remote from each other to effect actuation of the actuating lever, it requires a relatively light actuating force to produce required pressure between the engaging contact heads, which result is brought about by a relatively slight movement of the actuating lever through the operation of the actuator 29, by the weight or pressure applied thereon.

In Fig. 8 it will be seen that the pivotal engagement between the switch blade 49 and the fingers 43 is in effect knife-edge engagement. Such an arrangement reduces the bearing engagement between the switch blade 49 and the fingers 43, with the result that the slightest force applied to the switch blade 49 will result in pivoting of the switch blade instantaneously under the action of the tension spring 69.

From the foregoing description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an electric switch which is relatively simple in construction, highly efficient in use, and economical in manufacture.

While I. have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limitedto the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric switchcomprising a mounting plate providing a laterally extending seat, a bracket extending laterally from the plate opposite and in spaced relation with respect to said seat, a relatively flat elongated switch blade pivotally supported by the bracket and extending laterally therefromand having one end portion pivotally connected to. saidbracket and extending laterally therefrom with a free end' portion adjacent said seat and having contact heads on opposite sides thereof at its free end portion, a pair of. stationary contact heads carried by said plate opposite said contact heads on said blade and adapted for alternate engagement with the latter contact heads, an actuating. lever having one end portion pivotally mounted in said-seat and extending laterally therefrom with a free end-portion adjacent and outwardly from the point of pivotali connection between the switch blade and the bracket, an actuator including a rotatable actuating lever carried by said plate and having a cylindrical shaft with asideportion thereof removed to provide a relatively fiat surface having bearing engagement with the free end portion of the actuating lever, and a tension member having one end portion connected to the free end portionof the switch blade and an opposite end portion connected to the free end portion of the actuating lever.

2. An electric switch comprising a mounting plate providing a laterally extending seat, a bracket extending laterally from the plate. opposite. and in spaced relation with respect to said seat, a relatively fiat elongated switch blade pivotally supported by the bracket and extending laterally therefrom and having one end portion pivotally connected to said bracket and extending laterally there from with a free end portion adjacent said seat and having contact heads on opposite sides thereof at its free end portion, a pair of stationary contact heads carried by said plate opposite said'contact heads on said blade and adapted for alternate engagement with the latter contact heads, an actuating lever having one end portion pivotally mounted in said seat and extending laterally therefrom with a free end portion adjacent and outwardly from the point of pivotal connection between the switch blade and the bracket, an actuator including an actuating lever and a shaft extending laterally therefrom and provided with a trunnion journalled in said mountin plate, said shaft being cylindrical in cross section and having a side portion thereof removed to provide a relatively fiat surface on one side thereof having bearing engagement with the free end portion of the actuating lever, and a tension member having one end portion connected to the free end portion of the switch. blade and an opposite end portion connected to the free end portion of the actuating lever.

3. An electric switch comprising a mounting plate having an opening formed therein, a nylon trunnion journalled in said opening, an actuator fixed to one end portion of the trunnion on one side of the plate and extending laterally from the trunnion, a nylon shaft formed integral with said trunnion and extending in longitudinal alignment with respect thereto and formed substantially cylindrical in cross section with a portion of one side thereof removed to provide a relatively flat surface, an actuating lever in parallel relation with the opposite side of said plate and having one end portion pivotally supported by said plate and a free end portion in'engagement with said flat surface, an elongated switch blade in substantially parallel spaced relation with respect to said actuating lever, means carried'by said plateand providing a pivotal support for one end portion of said switch blade at a point adjacent the free end portion of the actuating lever, an opposite end portion of the switch blade being free for movement, a tension spring extending in parallel relation with respect to said switch blade and said actuator and having one end portion connected to the free end portion of the switch blade and an oppositeend portion connected to the free end of said actuator, said tension spring maintaining bearing relation between said actuating lever and said shaft, and stationary contactheads carried by said plate in spaced relation to each other'and on opposite sides of the switch blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,325,959 Rumburg Dec. 23, 1919 1,372,331 Balzer et al. Mar. 22, i921 1,999,880 Leonard Apr. 30', 1935 2,401,113 Schroeder May 28, 1946 2,508,040 Ransome May 16, 1950 2,745,042 Hoff May 8, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES" Product Engineering, September 1948, pagesl4) and 141relied'on'. (Copy in 'Scientific Library.) 

